Process of reducing iron from its ore.



PROCESS OF .110 MODEL.

M. RUTHENB URG. REDUCING IRON FROM ITS ORE;

PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10 1900.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS RUTHENBURG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF REDUCING IRON FROM ITS ORE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,254, dated March 10, 1903. Application filed July 10, 1900. Serial No. 23,131. (N specimens.)

To all whom, may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS RUTHENBURG, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Reducing Iron from its Ore, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The object of my invention is to provide a process whereby malleable iron or steel may be directly manufactured from comminuted ore, particularly magnetite.

My process consists in preheating a mass of comminuted ore to a temperature at which it is capable of being immediately deoxidized, retaining said mass in a quiescent state and progressing a vaporized reducing agent therethrough until the particles of ore are reduced without being fused, and finally fusing the metallic residue.

As an example of the operation of my invention I will describe the treatment of a mass of magnetite in an electric furnace such as is shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing, A is the furnace, comprising the crucible B, in which are opposed electrodes 0 O of the heating-circuit c 0'. Above said crucible B and in communication therewith is the hearth D, inclosed by the flue E, leading from the crucible B to the stack F. The hopper G is arranged to deliver material upon said hearth D, and the screwshaft H is so constructed as to deliver the material from said hearth D to the crucible B when rotated in the direction of the arrow marked upon the driving-wheel h. A mass of comminuted ore X, being delivered upon the hearth D of the furnace through the hopper G, is preheated upon said hearth to such a degree that a deoXidizing-gas will immediately reduce it in its comminuted state, and in such preheated condition said com minuted ore is introduced to the crucible B. The particles of preheated ore deposited as aforesaid in the crucible B surround the conduit I, through whose nozzle 4 a suitable reducing agent, such as vaporized coal-tar or petroleum, is conveniently delivered within the mass of ore. Said reducing agent being progressed through the entire mass of ore while the latter is in a quiescent condition permeates the interstices between the assembled particles and serves to reduce each particle to the metallic state. that the furnace A is so proportioned and arranged that the particles of 'comminuted ore are reduced in the zone b of the crucible B without being fused. Below said zone I) the heat causes fusion of the reduced particles into the molten metallic residue X, which during the conduct of the process is limited to about the height indicated by the line Z) by discharge through the tap-hole B.

I find it economical to inclose the conduit I with the jacket J, provided with the inletj and outletj, through which any suitable cooling medium may be circulated.

The principal source of heat in thefurnace above described is the electric current, which passes between the electrodes C O and fuses the interposed mass X, which forms a con- It is to be understood ductor for it, the heat to effect the reduction of the particles in the zone I) being derived from said current and from the combustion of the gases which are liberated during the reduction.

I prefer to use an electric current as a source the production of carbid, and thus malleable.

iron may be directly produced, or by elevating the temperature various grades of steel may be directly produced, the percentage of iron introduced to the product being of course predetermined by the temperature at which reduction is effected.

Although for the reason stated I prefer to employ apparatus of the form hereinbefore described, I do not desire to limit myself there to, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the apparatus employed without departing from the essential features of my process.

I claim 1. The herein-described process of reducing iron ores to the metallic state which is continuous and which consists in detaining each particle of a mass of comminuted ore for a definite time in a region heated to a determined degree less than reducing temperature but a temperature at which it is capable of being immediately deoXidized; then progressing the particles of ore in granular form and at a determined rate into a region heated to such a degree as to effect the reduction of the particles Without fusing them; then progressing the reduced metal in granular form at reducing temperature into a region of fusing temperature, and fusing the reduced metal, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described process of reducing iron ores to the metallic state which is continuous and which consists in detaining each particle of a mass of comminuted ore for a definite time in a region heated toadetermined degree less than reducing temperature, but a temperature at which it is capable MARCUS RUTHENBURG.

Witnesses:

LILIAN V. MERK, W. G. HAVENS. 

